It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn’t help to know you’re just time away
Long ago, I reached for you, and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could, but you’re so far away
“So Far Away”, Carol King
Most people I know grew up here
Families stay in the house in which they grew up
You were born here
You stay here
Simple as that
You barely walk a mile and arrive at your grandmother’s doorstep
I, on the other hand, do not
The doorstep of my home is 1000 miles away
Planes and trains can take me there, but never soon enough
Where I’m from is not here
I come from hot days and warm nights
Salty air and southern drawl surround you
The smell of peaches in the air
When it’s dark, a lighthouse lights your way home
I come from miles and miles away
Men sit in rocking chairs in the early morning
Drinking coffee black
Newspapers litter the porch
The slam of a screen door is almost a peaceful sound
Old women greet you kindly
Prayers pour from them, wishing you well
You hear “Bless your heart, y’all, sir, ma’am, fixin’ to”
Honey, sugar, and pumpkin don’t refer to food
People are soft and kind
A bowl of boiled peanuts on the table
Salty and delicious
A cold glass of tea sits in front of you
Sweet but oh so refreshing
Where I live
Voices are harsh and cold
The days are long and dark
No lighthouses guide you
On those dark nights, the loneliness seeps in
My home lies lightyears away
The distance consumes me
It isn’t until I smell the sweet juice of a peach,
Hear the lullaby of a southern voice,
Or feel salt water against my skin, that I realize
1000 miles isn’t so far away
